Maggie Davidson 2011-14

Your Name

Meggie Davidson

Gender

Female

Which describes your role at Mars Hill?

Group Leader (any leadership role)

What Mars Hill location(s) did you attend?

Downtown Seattle, Rainier Valley

What years were you involved / attending?

2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

How did you first hear about Mars Hill?

Before moving to Seattle, I had friends at my church who recommended Mars Hill to me. And now that I'm thinking of it, they were all men under the age of 30...

What was the circumstance of your first time attending Mars HIll?

I had spent about a year away from church following fall out with a close friend, what I felt was inauthenticity at the church I had been attending, and trying to heal from church enforced gender roles (ironic isn't it?). I felt God calling me back to church and I thought of MHC since I had been recommended to me a couple years back. I lived sort of equidistant from Ballard, UW, and Downtown, but Downtown's service times for my schedule, so I tried it out.

What were your first impressions?

I loved the worship music. And people seemed pretty friendly. Thought Mark's preaching was good (this was March 2011). I stayed afterward to go to a post service gathering and met some great people (a few I am actually still friends with) and it made me want to come back.

Why was Mars Hill your church home?

I loved the community I found at Mars Hill. I made so many friends there, and got into serving, which really connected me to the church. I felt like it was where God wanted me to be.

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a positive impact on you?

I learned and grew a lot at Mars Hill. People actually confessing and talking about their sins to other people was so different for me. I was used to the "pretend it didn't happen or hide it" school of thought. Redemption groups, though incredibly difficult, was also a big part of that. I didn't understand what repentance meant before that.
And again, I grew lots of meaningful friendships and relationships there. It also ended up being where I met my husband (and I definitely like him).

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a negative impact on you?

The last 1.5-2 years were really painful. It was difficult to watch pastors and staff that I cared about leaving the church, and for a significant period of time not be allowed to know why. There was so much lying, secret keeping and back pedaling done by Mars Hill on what was communicated to members that it made your head spin. And some times, I could understand why. For people that loved the church and wanted to see it prosper and really wanted to believe that Mark wasn't doing bad things, even if you knew things were wrong or off, you still wanted to defend the church.
Also, I was a member of Rainier Valley where we had to deal with all the crud following Willie's departure. I was also an intern there, and the staff being incredibly immature and not knowing what they were doing we were taken advantage of. There was also the absolute garbage that was the pre marriage class we took (done at RV). The stress of "traditional gender roles" which placed far more burden on the woman (which was universal in MHC) disgusted both myself and my husband. Even before we took the class we were asked to fill out this insanely invasive form which we wanted to talk to the leaders about, but they were unwilling to do so. We were told to just "submit to their authority" in the matter. One of the leaders also, in all seriousness, called my husband, then fiancée, a special snowflake because he was challenging the matter.

What would you like to have changed about Mars Hill?

The fixation with "authority". If you disagreed, or challenged something you were dismissed as being divisive and the matter was never considered.
The open handed issues that were actually closed handed issues like complementarian vs egalitarian. Things they disagreed with were so talked down that you were essentially a heretic for holding a different viewpoint.

Which describes you?

I stayed at Mars Hill through closure.

Please describe why you stayed at Mars Hill and what that experience was like.

We stayed because we felt God calling us to do so. And it was incredibly difficult. We wanted to leave, but also wanted to love the other people remaining because not everyone understood what was going on. As a couple we had a lot of fights about staying vs leaving. And there was the weird awkwardness of when other people would leave the church.

How would you describe the reason for Mars Hill's closure to an outsider.

Mars Hill was a massive multi campus mega church that had overbearing and abusive tendencies which were dictated by the lead pastor, Mark Driscoll. The way it was run was monetarily unsustainable, so when many pastors left and and the massive failings of Mark came to light, he ran and the church couldn't stay open.

What's changed for you since your time at Mars Hill came to an end?

There were unfortunately things we still couldn't say because we went to Rainier Valley post Mars Hill (it still operates in some core beliefs and convictions as a mini Mars Hill). But now we've moved to a different city and now attends church that matches with our convictions. We believe, and can openly now say, an egalitarian viewpoint in marriage and the way the church is run. Women should be in leadership and should be pastors (our current church's staff has 2). We have believe in inclusivity for LGBT people. We feel so much better and freer being at a church that does a lot of things we used to love about Mars Hill (serving the city, an [actual] fatherly pastor) but does it in a way that's sustainable and is about Jesus. Our pastor and staff isn't out to make money, or make their names great.

Please write anything else you'd like to add.

Overall, I did love Mars Hill, and for a while I wanted to believe the best about Mark and the situation. But I really am ultimately glad the Titanic sank, and I hope and pray that some day he actually changes, and that the damage caused by the church can be healed in the hearts of those it offended.

Kat - Ballard, Downtown Seattle 2006-12

Your Name

Kat

Gender

Female

Which describes your role at Mars Hill?

Member

What Mars Hill location(s) did you attend?

Ballard, Downtown Seattle

What years were you involved / attending?

2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

How did you first hear about Mars Hill?

My roommate attended.

What was the circumstance of your first time attending Mars HIll?

I came to a community group with a roommate, and then the next week visited the Ballard campus.

What were your first impressions?

It was very unique to me. I was used to churches with older traditions and the people in the pulpit didn't have tattoos or use language like me. It was really refreshing to me to see a well put together service when I had been mostly involved with unorganized small churches.

Why was Mars Hill your church home?

When I started attending, I wasn't aware of the controversy surrounding the church and met some great people. By the time I started hearing complaints about the church, I had already been involved with a great group of people so it was hard for me to see other perspectives as valid.

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a positive impact on you?

For my family, it is mostly community. I met my partner at Mars hill, married him and had kids there. All of our friends were from the church and it was most of our social life.

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a negative impact on you?

I am no longer a believer, so looking back on my years as a fundamentalist is painful. I can see now that the concerns that those outside of the church brought to me were real. Mars Hill taught me everything could be answered and explained, and when I realized that isn't how the gospel works in the real world, I had to throw the whole thing out and start building truth of my own.

What would you like to have changed about Mars Hill?

Attitude toward challengers, healthier leadership,  focus more on outreach than growing the army of Mars hill.

Which describes you?

I left Mars Hill prior to closure.

Please describe why you left Mars Hill and what that experience was like.

We had been aware of some things at the church that weren't resting well with us, but thought we could be part of the change in the broken machine. While out of town on vacation I became overwhelmed suddenly with a desire to distance myself from the church, out of nowhere, my husband also had the same conviction. We decided to leave and then a few weeks later our campus pastor was asked to step  down and then in the months following, we saw lots of friends leave as well. A lot of our friends were personally hurt by the church, although this wasn't our experience, our hearts ached for them.

How would you describe the reason for Mars Hill's closure to an outsider.

Unhealthy leadership, no accountability, and the lying and spinning of everything.

What's changed for you since your time at Mars Hill came to an end?

I am not bitter about Mars hill. My years there were great, but the black and white nature of fundamentalism has messed me up. I am no longer a believer but I happily attend church with my family in an open and progressive community. I feel pretty embarrassed  to have closed my eyes and ears to the years of people pointing out problems, and I am amazed I could have been q part of an organization that treated women as less than men and didn't allow people in positions of leadership based on their gender or orientation.

Angela Giboney 1997-2014

Your Name

Angela Giboney

Gender

Female

Which describes your role at Mars Hill?

Regular Attender, Member, Group Leader (any leadership role)

What Mars Hill location(s) did you attend?

Ballard, Bellevue, Downtown Seattle, Lake City / Wedgewood, Portland, Shoreline, Sammamish, Tacoma, West Seattle

What years were you involved / attending?

1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

How did you first hear about Mars Hill?

The person I was dating had played sports in high school with Mark. He told me about Mars Hill.

What was the circumstance of your first time attending Mars HIll?

It was at Laurel Hurst.

What were your first impressions?

Young, interesting, bible preaching, unusual music ever that sometimes was difficult to sing.

Why was Mars Hill your church home?

The people of Mars Hill loved and cared for me, I became a member and God made it clear it was home in this season.

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a positive impact on you?

God used the time at Mars Hill to move me from trusting Him with my eternity to trusting Him with my life.

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a negative impact on you?

Sadness that God's church was grown in way that included the pain of The body not giving the grace they have received and want to leaders when they sinned and were blind to their sin.

What would you like to have changed about Mars Hill?

Better communication and less fear.  More resources to children and a willingness to grow slower to ensure the people were not getting ahead of God's equipping.

Which describes you?

I stayed at Mars Hill through closure.

Please describe why you stayed at Mars Hill and what that experience was like.

God did not tell me to leave, so I stayed, so that I could be used for His glory where I was.

How would you describe the reason for Mars Hill's closure to an outsider.

Our church went through a difficult time and because of sin and fear that occurred over many years and the unforgiving response of some who claim to be Christians.  The plan for a long time was that if anything every happened to Mark the locations would each become different churches.  If Mark had stayed, the attention would have been on him, not on Jesus and for the safety and mental and physical protection of his children he could not continue in the same role.

What's changed for you since your time at Mars Hill came to an end?

It is hard to be excited about church to the degree we were before.  I have not yet heard from God where He wants me to declare membership.

Please write anything else you'd like to add.

God's church will continue to grow and many churches are being equipped with trained leaders for His glory, they are growing with people hungry for God and his word.  I wish God would have chosen a different solution, but God knows much better than I do what is necessary and best.

Member - Downtown Seattle 2002-14

Gender

Male

Which describes your role at Mars Hill?

Member

What Mars Hill location(s) did you attend?

Downtown Seattle

What years were you involved / attending?

2002, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

How did you first hear about Mars Hill?

Sister was going to the Ballard church which was at the time, the only location

What was the circumstance of your first time attending Mars HIll?

Heard that it had solid teaching

What were your first impressions?

Solid teaching based on the Word. Sermons were rich and unfiltered. No candy coating.
Worship was more band-ish. A bit too showy and thus hard to enter into worship.

Why was Mars Hill your church home?

It’s where I felt home was.

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a positive impact on you?

Challenged and encouraged spiritually on sundays and in community.

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a negative impact on you?

Getting involved in community was always difficult. Assimilation was one of MH's weakest areas I felt. Poor follow through. I spent a lot of time trying to get plugged in....MUCH longer than in comparison to other churches of similar size.

What would you like to have changed about Mars Hill?

Reduce the negative items listed above

Which describes you?

I stayed at Mars Hill through closure.

Please describe why you stayed at Mars Hill and what that experience was like.

Because it was my church. I don't abandon my family even if it goes through tough times. While Mark played a central, leading role,the church was still bigger than him. So it was really sad that the church as a body with its leadership (even with Mark ousted) failed its congregation. The leadership bailed. And what was left decided to close MH..rather than be transparent and continue to press onward.

How would you describe the reason for Mars Hill's closure to an outsider.

Mark ultimately failed to lead as God has called us to lead. He let pride and arrogance take the best of him. The manner of which he was ousted was wrong as was the manner (and extent) of which the public and worst of all, Christians judged him, was the worst and saddest part of it all. While we all know that sin is sin, the gravity in which he was judged was inappropriate.

What's changed for you since your time at Mars Hill came to an end?

It’s been an incredibly difficult year looking for a new church home and church body. While I take responsibility for where I am, I do recognize that there was collateral damage from Mark, the board, disgruntled former leaders and leadership team that subsequently decided to shut down MH.

Please write anything else you'd like to add.

The manner in which the church was shut down was the worst part of it all. The leadership was too wrapped up in public opinion and disregarded the congregation itself.

The investigation was never completed. THIS WAS AND IS STILL A PROBLEM!!!! And what’s worst is that the church no longer exists so the leadership removed the avenue for the people (as a church body) to get closure and healing from hearing the resolution of the investigation and subsequently, healing as a body.

Furthermore, this has prevented the possibility for Mark to go back to the church to seek genuine forgiveness and reconciliation....because the church does not exist....there is no effective, appropriate means for him to do so.

This could have been best accomplished by having independent MH churches with the backbone/support structure of MH Church as a large body of smaller MH churches.

That’s what I honestly expected to happen...churches would become independent but yet interdependent. When I got the email that MH was dissolving, I was shocked and numb.

Member - Ballard, Downtown Seattle 2006-10

Gender

Female

Which describes your role at Mars Hill?

Member

What Mars Hill location(s) did you attend?

Ballard, Downtown Seattle

What years were you involved / attending?

2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

How did you first hear about Mars Hill?

I was dating someone who claimed to be christian. I at the time was not and challenged them to actually go to church if they were claiming to be a christian. A quick internet search found mars hill Ballard and I agreed to go check it out with them.

What were your first impressions?

I was relieved it was full of people not dressed in their Sunday best and I saw lots of tattoos. For the first time I didn't stick out like a sore thumb or get lots of nasty or pitying looks.

Why was Mars Hill your church home?

I fit in, felt loved, challenged and sought after. I was able to grow in my faith without judgment.

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a positive impact on you?

I was saved there!

What about your time at Mars Hill has had a negative impact on you?

A few years before everything happened we were forced to move out of state. Watching everything happen over the internet was hard. Especially since i knew my church home was no longer there for me to come back to. Once all the allegations came out I started questioning everything I believed and what doctrine I had put into my life. Was what I believed bible based or Mark based? I had a hard time trusting churches.

What would you like to have changed about Mars Hill?

More transparency. Sure change is good sometimes, but why so much? People were leaving and being shuffled around all the time. No one ever talked about what was really happening. Also, I love mark. I love his ability to speak into my life and move me towards Christ. I had never heard a preacher like him before going to mars hill. I did feel that he had been elevated to a God like status in the church. Whether it was by his doing or not, more approachability would have helped him not be so 'untouchable'.

Which describes you?

I left Mars Hill prior to closure.

Please describe why you left Mars Hill and what that experience was like.

We left because financial hardship had forced my husband to join the military so we could afford to support children we wanted to have. It was very hard. Mars hill was our family and they were there for us through the good times and walked us through the bad.

How would you describe the reason for Mars Hill's closure to an outsider.

Lack of checks and balances on the part of the higher ups. Marks' anger and deceit.

What's changed for you since your time at Mars Hill came to an end?

I've dug into the bible more and stood more firmly in my beliefs. I'm more fearful of joining churches and have a hard time committing to membership.

Please write anything else you'd like to add.

I learned so much from the community at Mars Hill. I grew as a Christian. I went through redemption groups twice and learned something new each time and dug up past hurts and was able to work on healing. My marriage was redeemed. We were newly married and heading towards divorce, we went through some (what felt like) radical counseling that, through God, saved our marriage and allowed us to renew our vows and grow together.  We are now married 6 years and would not be here today with the support of our community group and some pastors at Mars Hill.